British and Irish Lions star Sean Maitland seeking no guarantees as he prepares to fight for his place at Glasgow Warriors

THE New Zealand-born Scotland international capped a memorable first year in Glasgow with call-ups to the Dark Blues' RBS 6 Nations squad and Warren Gatland's Lions party. But he realises this doesn't guarantee him a place among the Warriors.

SEAN MAITLAND may have spent the summer in Australia with the British and Irish Lions but the Glasgow wing insists his place in the Warriors side is far from guaranteed.

The New Zealand-born Scotland international capped a memorable first year in Glasgow after quitting the country of his birth by following up his inclusion in the Dark Blues' RBS 6 Nations squad with a call-up for Warren Gatland's Lions tour party.

But Maitland insists competition for places is so fierce in the Glasgow ranks, even his place in the team is under threat.

Warriors coach Gregor Townsend has used 36 players in their first five RaboDirect Pro12 games of the season, but the changes have not stopped them from racking up a 100 per cent record on their way to the top of the table.

And with European champions Toulon waiting on Sunday in France as the side starts its Heineken Cup campaign, Maitland says the battle for jerseys will only get tougher once Lions team-mate Stuart Hogg returns to full fitness.

He said: "We have got a lot of depth in this team. No-one is safe - not even me. And especially when Hoggy comes back, we will have some talent in the starting XV and even the guys on the sidelines.

"We will have a lot of disappointed guys not going to the south of France but the one thing we do have is that we are a strong club and everyone backs each other."

Top 14 leaders Toulon are unbeaten at home since January 6 but the Scots have made just as impressive a start to their league campaign as the one posted by their weekend opponents.

However, Maitland says Glasgow - who also face matches against Cardiff Blues and Exeter Chiefs in Pool 2 - have not yet clicked into top gear.

"We haven't had a solid 80-minute performance yet," said the 25-year-old. "If you look at all of the five matches so far, it was probably the Leinster game that we can all look back on and agree that we played bloody awesome.

"But there is more to improve on, especially coming up against an awesome Toulon team.

"We will need a full 80-minute performance if we want to get a victory there."